Available online
Description
This programme examines the decision to create The Open University. It traces the development of Harold Wilson's idea of the 'University of the Air' which he first mooted at the Labour Party Confer...ence of 1963. The programme continues to explore how Harold Wilson's idea was actually put into practice, through interviews with those very closely involved: Jennie Lee, John Scupham, Ralph Toomey, Tony Benn, Lord Perry, Sir Hugh Carlton-Greene and Lord Goodman. The programme analyses in detail the constraints to pursuing the policy of an Open University from the point of view of Treasury opposition, DES opposition and the concerns of the BBC, Post Office and IBA. It then explores the mechanism that in fact allowed the idea to become policy through the workings of the DES, the importance of the Prime Minister and the importance of the Advisory and Planning Committees. The programme examines in some detail the negotiations with the BBC on airtime and on the final funding of the Open University. The programme uses the political interests model of decision making to structure the programme and so examines the decision from a political interests standpoint.
This programme examines the decision to create The Open University. It traces the development of Harold Wilson's idea of the 'University of the Air' which he first mooted at the Labour Party Confer...ence of 1963. The programme continues to explore how Harold Wilson's idea was actually put into practice, through interviews with those very closely involved: Jennie Lee, John Scupham, Ralph Toomey, Tony Benn, Lord Perry, Sir Hugh Carlton-Greene and Lord Goodman. The programme analyses in detail the constraints to pursuing the policy of an Open University from the point of view of Treasury opposition, DES opposition and the concerns of the BBC, Post Office and IBA. It then explores the mechanism that in fact allowed the idea to become policy through the workings of the DES, the importance of the Prime Minister and the importance of the Advisory and Planning Committees. The programme examines in some detail the negotiations with the BBC on airtime and on the final funding of the Open University. The programme uses the political interests model of decision making to structure the programme and so examines the decision from a political interests standpoint.
